The Xavier Times e-Newsletter Vol 5 No 3

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xavier times
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X a v i e r U ni v e rsit y ’ s official n e ws publication
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xavier university school of medicine
Recognized by Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Jordan
Vo l 5 - I s s u e N o 3 - S p r i n g 2 0 1 5
Diversity @ XUSOM
Venezuela
Venezuela is located in the northern coast of South
America. Venezuela is known to have the largest petroleum industry, and natural features. Home of a huge
diversity of wildlife and also variety of protected habitats. Venezuela is considered to be among the 17-mega
diverse countries in the world. Venezuela also has the
largest waterfall in the world, which is the “Angels Falls.”
As you can see Venezuela is a country with many characteristics, and also according to book of world records we
are the happiest country around the world.
Ireland
“Céad míle Fáilte” The Emerald Isle a land of One Hundred Thousand Welcomes.
A small country with a global reputation, helped along
by a historic, age-caressed
landscape and friendly people, whose lyrical nature is
expressed in the warmth of
their welcome.
what’s
inside
Diversity @ XUSOM
Health Fair @ ISA
Screening of WIT
‘Therapie’ Session at
Xavier University
Taiwo’s Quotes & Poems
Restaurant Review
Faculty Session
Gabriel’s Movie Corner
Nigeria
Situated in the tropics of West Africa, Nigeria is the most populous
African country with a population of
over 160 million people of diverse
ethnic groups, religion and culture.
Nigeria is one of the largest oil producing countries of the world and
is also endowed with many other
natural resources, which has contributed in making its people very
industrious and enterprising.
Trinidad
The twin island of The Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago is roughly 600 miles from Aruba. It may
be a small country but it is rich in natural resources and home to the steel pan (also known
as the steel drum), and calypso music. Trinidad
is also one of the largest nesting grounds for the
leather back turtle in the world. Indeed the population holds true to our national anthem where
it says, “Here every creed and race find an equal
place,” as our culture is very diversed. Trinidad is
my land and of it I am proud and glad.
Ireland
Trinidad
Venezuela
Nigeria
Collage design by Dr Gil Apacible II, Assoc. Dean of Student Affairs
XUSOM Health Fair at the
International School of Aruba
On Saturday March 7th, 2015 The International School of Aruba hosted an open house. The school strives to prepare students to achieve
their academic and personal best within a U.S. accredited, English language, college/university preparatory program that embraces diversity while encouraging leadership, character, and community service.
From the editors
Xavier University School of Medicine (XUSOM) attracts students from a variety of
nations and backgrounds. In this issue we
feature the first in a series of articles about
the national and ethnic diversity of XUSOM
students and faculty. The editorial team of
Xavier Times illustrates this diversity with
members from the United States, India,
Canada, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Aruba. We report on the health fair conducted
on 7th March at the International School of
Aruba. Three Dutch Pyschomotor and Music Therapy student practitioners Mayssa
Mekaoui, Krystel Banga, and Jette Peuscher
conducted a session on 26th February to
introduce students and faculty to their discipline through entertaining games and
activities. We recently screened the movie
‘Wit’ followed by small group activities to
introduce students to the humane and human aspects of medicine. The Chief Academic Officer, Dr Little conducted a session
for faculty members on linking educational
objectives and assessment. MD2 student
Taiwo shares his quotes and poems in this
issue. We have our regular restaurant and
movie reviews in this issue. Read on …
Screening of WIT
The action of the play takes place during the final hours of Dr Vivian Bearing, an overbearing, stuffy professor of
English. In the opening scene Dr. Kelekian nonchalantly informs Dr. Bearing
that she has Stage IV ovarian cancer.
Vivian seems nonplussed by her diagnosis. Dr Kelekian then proposes an experimental regimen consisting of eight
rounds at full dosage of chemotherapy.
At the invitation of Ms Christina Galintano, from the International
School of Aruba, Xavier University School of Medicine was once again
invited to participate in the school’s open house and was afforded
the opportunity to serve as a community partner at this event.Special
thanks to the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Family
Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) for their help in orchestrating the event.
Over the course of the play, Vivian reflects on her life and through a series of
vignettes where she has a series of flashbacks. For instance in one scene she recalls her initial introduction to her love
of books in her childhood interactions
with a distant father. In another scene
she flashes back to her experiences as a
student of Dr E. M. Ashford, an expert on
John Dunne (a sixteenth century metaphysical poet), who encourages Vivian
to go out more frequently, experience
life and be with other people.
Medical students and faculty from Xavier, including: Dr. Nandy,Dr.Mahji,
Dr. Dubey, Dr. Neelam. Dr. Parvez, Dr. Segie and Dr. Rose supervised
students who provided a range of appropriately-targeted health screening tests to identify potential threats to health. Our health screening
tests help identify abnormalities that may lead to a heart attack, stroke,
aneurysm and cancer. Health screenings are essential to a healthy
lifestyle because the sooner a threat is detected, the higher the success
of treatment and the lower the risk of complications.
Medical students checked blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass
indexes, and provided hearing and vision tests. In addition students and
faculty spoke with attendees about basic habits to adopt for healthy living.
The road to changing health care systems to those of preventive medicine is a long and arduous one, but it is the right road to take. Ultimately, this journey may prove to be one of the greatest scientific adventures
of all time that can lead to decreased morbidity and mortality for everyone. We can all play a role in this move to preventive medicine.
Despite Dr. Ashford’s encouraging words
Vivian dashes off to the safety and security of the library and intellectualism.
In another vignette Vivian finds herself
under the care of Dr Jason Posner, an
oncology research fellow, and a previous student of Dr. Bearing. He hesitantly
gives Vivian a pelvic exam, which she
finds humiliating and de-humanizing.
Dr. Posner even admits that he had to
take a physician/patient relationship
course....” a true waste of time”. Gradually Vivian yearns for the one thing she
has been avoiding all her life, human
kindness. Unfortunately, she realizes too
late that doctors are interested in her for
her research value and, like her, tend to
ignore humanity in favor of knowledge.
We have always been very careful to explain that the health fair is simply an informative, interactive event and not a substitute for a regular
check-up with their physician and that they should have regular medical check-ups. Still, the information, brochures, and health screenings
received by participants appeared to be well received and very valuable in educating them about a variety of health issues,”
As Vivian reels in pain, approaching her
demise one nurse who has befriended
Vivian discusses with her the option of
exercising her final option, “do not resuscitate”. Vivian decides to opt for the
DNR option. Dr Ashford visits the hospital after learning of Vivian’s cancer.
She comforts her and offers to read a
Donne sonnet, but Vivian, scarcely conscious, declines. Instead, Ashford reads
from The Runaway Bunny, which in essence summarizes the circle of... life,
death and the afterlife; where death is
merely a pause.
All in all, it seemed as though the International School of Aruba’s Open
House and Xavier University’s Health Fair was a great success! As we
have been asked to participate once again, all of us from Xavier School
of Medicine look forward to seeing you next year.
When Vivian “dies”, Jason tries to resuscitate her, calling in a medical team to
administer CPR, which the nurse tries to
stop. Jason eventually realizes his mistake and calls for the CPR team to stop.
The play ends as Vivian, unclothed after
her death, walks from her hospital bed
“toward a little light”.
It was SGA and FMIG who helped me with the preparation and they led
the students that day. Ms. Crisanta Galinato of ISA was the person who
invited me. That was our second time and they already asked me if we
could do it again next year. Thanks so much Dr. Rose.
Dr Christopher Rose, Assoc Prof of Behavioral Science
‘Therapie’ session at Xavier University
After the viewing students from MD14 formed groups meeting in separate
rooms, to review central elements of
the movie. Dr Rose, Dr Nandy, Dr Bala
and Dr Ravi were the faculty facilitators
and each group had a MD4 students as
the student leader and facilitator. Once
completed they all reassembled in the
Auditorium and each group presented
their summations. A common sentiment
echoed throughout all presentations
was the dismissive way in which the majority of the medical personal treated
Vivian. As an example one group pointed out that Vivian was frequently asked”
how she was doing”, when if anyone
was truly concerned, she was dying from
cancer, her hair and eye brows missing
and she was in excruciating pain from
chemotherapy. Other themes to emerge
were the numerous ethical violations
which occurred. For instance, right from
the initial interview, Dr. Kelekian violated
the principle of Autonomy by failing to
ensure that Dr. Bearing was completely
informed about her condition and the
nature of her treatment options.
Three student practitioners of psychomotor therapy and music therapy from Holland conducted a 90 minute interactive session, called
‘Therapie’ for XUSOM students and faculty in the school auditorium
on Wednesday, 26th February from 3 to 4.30 pm. Mayssa Mekaoui,
Krystel Banga, and Jette Peuscher introduced faculty and students to
music and psychomotor therapy through games and activities which
were well thought out and conducted. Undergraduate medical students of semesters 1 to 4 participated enthusiastically in the activities.
In another instance, it seemed highly inappropriate when Dr. Posner fumbles his
way through a pelvic exam with Vivian
after having announced that Dr. Bearing
was his former professor. In conclusion,
the students reached consensus that the
“takeaway” message they would recall
in their future careers as physicians was
the importance of making life/death decisions with kindness.
Dr Christopher Rose, Assoc
Professor Behavioral Science
Taiwo’s Personal
Quotes
1. “Defining the indefinable is only the
first step, interpretation is the second
step and finally, the execution of the
definition and interpretation which
are the final and challenging steps”
2. “With music subconscious
thoughts must rebind and wishes
must commemorate”
3. “The understanding of the music
of love should induce orderliness”
Dr Barton, Dr Majhi, Dr Stokely and Dr Bala were prominent among
the faculty members involved in playing various games and having a
good time. Among the games/activities played was the Looper, Who
is the Loudest and Human ball. The session started with an ice breaker
which was a modified version of tag. You had to tag the person on the
butt! With mixing of and amplification of sounds the session titled the
Looper was interesting. ‘Who is the Loudest’ was a game where participants chose different musical instruments and competed against
each other to generate the loudest volume. The student practitioners
effectively used games, adult learning strategies and the constructivist
theory of education. The session was enjoyed by all present.
4. ”If I am A and you are Z, you should
not cut off Y to B neither should I cut
off B to Y, if either or both of us do,
then we have cut off our blood supply
and we are (as good as) dead,
regardless of who is right or wrong”
5. ”Patience + Endurance + Persistence/
Perseverance + Practice + Understanding
/Knowledge + Planning/Timing is likely
a Goal”
6. “Any person who will cause profound
change must first realize (admit) right
(good) from wrong (evil), originality,
his own fallibilities and when he
does not know”
7. “Imagination - giving life to
(exposing/revealing) realities and
their environments (components)”
8. “Music - cascading waterfall of originality that submerges the tensions of
reality and rationality always singing
equality”
9. ”The world is not about specific
group/s of people individually but
everybody collectively”
10. “Ideal is ideal for humans
but not straight perfection”
Mr. Taiwo Odumosu, MD2 student
Taiwo’s Poems
1. On The Other Side
An asylum of hope where liberation
reigns yet solitude operates flashing
bright lights dictate serenity caresses
designing the scenario with assorted
templates footprints of echoing shadows
flicker the rushing wind swerves, magnifies and flutters imaginations surge,
growing wild and deeper reality spins
turning around, quicker the deafening
silence fluctuates and whispers images
blur with recurring visions that gradually recur and disseminate prompting
questions of “Are we really free, far away
from the troubles that aggravate?”
thoughts are postponed,
as we let our fates decide and unite
linking us where we will meet again
gliding via resonating infinite reflections
desolate on the other side...
2. Left Behind
Rain dropping tears ripple sound effects miraging the scene with silhouetting memories, thoughts and vibrations that linger from the foot printing
soles and echoing presences shared
among our beloved ones left behind.
3. Mama’s Soft Music (Mama Mia)
When tears rolled down little Mia’s
cheeks mama’s soft music was always
there to sing her lullabies to sleep during the summer, winter, and even in the
springs mama’s music still sang even
when mama wasn’t around to speak
Her music sufficed and was always there
to inscribe a melodious picture in her
little Mia’s eyes they reflected mama’s
feelings, her teachings, her conscience,
her thoughts, her hopes, and her pride
the music emerged as Mama danced
her subtle fingers gently between her
favorite harp’s hips gradually entertaining and inviting comfort, courage and
laughter to surge around her little Mia’s
cheeks quietly sending little Mia to
sleep Mama’s composition and words
made little Mia wonder what vanished
fear from her little feet and mama silently
hoped that her little baby would grow to
attain the legacy left within her reach.
Mr. Taiwo Odumosu, MD2 student
Dr P Ravi Shankar MD, FAIMER Fellow in Health
Professions Education Chair, Curriculum Committee
Session for faculty on linking educational objectives with assessment
Dr Brian W Little, the Chief Academic Officer of XUSOM conducted
a session for faculty members on linking educational objectives with
assessment. He started the session by examining the different levels
of knowledge domains using Bloom’s taxonomy. He provided practical
suggestions to the faculty in regard to writing learning objectives for
interactive lectures and how to assess these objectives using multiple
choice questions. He discussed general rules for MCQ writing and how
to design MCQs targeting the higher order domains. He also stressed
the importance of small group work in attaining these objectives.
Restaurant
Review
By Andrea Hernandez
and Rami Sakaan,
MD4 students
In this issue of the Xavier
Times, we’ll explore two gastronomical
gems located downtown. One is a popular outdoor barbecue place and the
other a large bakery/lunch spot. Besides
being delicious, they won’t break your
wallet. Lastly, will be a small food truck
that has no name but its unique design
makes it identifiable.
Baby Back Grill
You can see the billowing clouds of grill
smoke before pulling into the parking lot
and smell that unmistakable barbecue
meat way before you see the place. It was
the recommendations made by former
student Umar Siddiqi that brought us to
this place and it was the smell that drew
us in. Baby Back is an outdoor barbecue
restaurant/bar located on the edge of
downtown that is popular with the locals
and any tourist who are lucky enough
to find it. Large slabs of your choice of
ribs, chicken, fish, or beef accompanied
with an award-winning macaroni salad,
fries, beans, or cole slaw. The best part
about this place? Cheap prices in florins
for a large amount of food. Baskets are
smaller than the platters but we guarantee you will be full off the basket. Get a
platter if you want leftovers for tomorrow. This place is also great for sporting
events as it hosts several TVs including
a huge wide screen. Don’t worry about
the heat or the smoke; Aruba’s famous
winds take care of that. The ribs and fish
are our recommendations and you definitely need to get that with the macaroni
salad and fries. (Dr Ram our pathology
faculty member and his familia are big
fans of baby back grill!)
Price: $
Location: Hospital St. #2, Oranjestad
Phone Number: (297) 582-4410
Hours: 11am-7pm daily
La Fama
Dr P Ravi Shankar MD, FAIMER Fellow in Health
Professions Education Chair, Curriculum Committee
Gabriel’s Movie Corner
Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Many films claim to be different, to be original…. Birdman is. Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s excursion into the mind of a washed up
actor proves to be more than just the most technologically innovative
movie of the year (It snatched Best Picture along with several other
Oscars). Michael Keaton stars as a washed up actor who used to portray
iconic superhero Birdman, but has since felt somewhat insignificant.
The film follows him as he attempts to mount a Broadway play and
regain the love and admiration he was once given. Magical realism is used in the narrative to not only give the audience an insight
into the fallen star’s fragile mind, but also to personify his ego and
sense of grandeur (Birdman). Birdman is filmed in a single shot, which
means there are no cuts or awkward transitions, and it really adds to
the eccentric and original feel of the movie. The cinematography is
remarkable (Birdman also won the best cinematography Oscar) and
succeeds in making the audience feel like part of the story. This philosophical gem explores not only how far a man will go to be loved but
also the inner struggle of “who you are” vs. “who society wants you to
be.” The film is superbly acted by an all-star cast, and features one of
my personal favorite musical scores. Ultimately, Birdman is a powerfully acted character driven story, a masterful display of technical prowess, and a film that will remain relevant in the years to come.
Score: 10/10
Boyhood (2014)
Speaking of originality, Director Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, a coming
of age drama about adolescence, is filmed in a way that has never been
done before. The film is shot over a real 12 year period (using the same
actors) and incorporates elements from each actor’s life into the character
they are portraying. It is almost less entertainment film than it is a commentary on human development. The acting by Ethan Hawke and Patricia
Arquette is magnificent, and made much more credible by the fact that
you see these characters grow and mature physically as well as mentally.
If you’ve been to Peanuts, you’ve definitely seen this large brick building situated right in front of that traffic light. La
Fama was a place to be conquered since
we have always driven by it and it has
been closed…or we didn’t really look
close enough to see if it was open. One
day we were finally determined enough
to park and enter and the only regret we
had was not coming here sooner. Upon
opening the door, the smell of freshly
grilled meat and sweet baked goods hits
you in the face. La Fama offers cookedto-order lunches such as burgers, hotdogs, cold or hot sandwiches, and lunch
baskets. Along with fresh baked breads,
cookies, and pastries, they also sell the
typical Aruban snacks of pastechis, loempia, croquets and various milkshakes.
We settled on a cheeseburger and a hot
dog. The cheeseburger was marinated
perfectly and served in a non-traditional
hamburger bun. The winner though was
the hotdog. Best hotdog we’ve tried on
the island; it’s grilled perfectly with a
smoky juicy taste surrounded in a fresh
baked bun. Even though we were full,
it didn’t stop us from ordering a sweet
apricot turnover. If you decide to get a
pastry there, ask for it to be warmed up
first; it makes a difference.
Price: $
Location: Caya Betico Croes 113,
Oranjestad
Phone Number: (297) 583-0048
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 6am-10pm
Sunday: Closed
Aruba’s Flag Shack
No, that’s not the real name. It actually
doesn’t have a name. So how can you
find this little shack (and it really is a little
shack): it’s painted with the flag of Aruba. You can’t miss it; a bright blue shack
with a big red star and yellow stripes. It
serves all the typical sandwiches with
fries, baskets, wings, and even shoarmas. After a late night, we ordered fries
with every sauce available, wings, cheese
steak sandwich, and a chicken shoarma.
The shoarma and sandwich were a perfect way to end the evening; you should
definitely start with those and the fries
with all the sauces, if you’re a sauce person. The wings you can do without; nothing special and I would rather have spent
the money on something different. For
the price, the amount of food you get
is decent. If you want to try something
new, this is it. Don’t be put off by the
appearance.
Price: $
Location: On L.G. Smith, on the other
side of where the flea market near Certified is. If you see Certified and Deli France
on your right then you went too far.
Phone Number: unknown/none
Hours: Thursday-Saturday, after 9pm
(this is what I’ve seen so far)
Xavier
Times
team
Faculty editor:
Dr. P Ravi Shankar
Student editor:
Andrea Hernandez
Faculty advisors:
Boyhood’s epic technical scale almost undermines the intimacy of its
narrative, as some moments feel slow and forced, but it ultimately succeeds in crafting and incredible and realistic look at the human
condition. The themes of time and change are laid heavily throughout
the story through the use of arbitrary character moments that seem rife
with insignificance up until the moment you realize the ripple effect such
moments have on each character’s life. Boyhood isn’t just a great movie,
or an astounding commentary on continuous development. It is art.
Score: 9/10
Amilcar Gabriel Toro, MD1 student
Dr. A Nandy
Dr. R Balasubramanium
Mr. J Hickey
Dr. Christopher Rose
Student members:
Manuel Paez PM2
Amilcar Gabriel Toro MD1
Taiwo Odumosu MD2
Luqman Goraya MD2
Manpreet Kaur MD4